Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand (NB), Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
Vagrant to Afghanistan, Iran [Islamic Republic of], Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates.
Unknown to Russia (Asian).
Mountains of south-central Asia, between 3000 m and at least 4500 m: Turkestan and western Xinjiang east to south-eastern Gansu, and south to Pamirs (L Kara-Kul), Ladakh and Tibet. Winters on coasts of India, northern Sri Lanka and south-eastern Asia, sparingly west to Arabian Peninsula.
 
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 100,000 - 200,000 (2010).
Voice
Resembles that of Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), but lower, more guttural 'krreeah-kreeah', a harsh 'gek-gek' and wailing 'ka-yek ka-yek'.
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) [XC769891]
by Sreekumar Chirukandoth from Kancheepuram (near Thiruvidanthai), Tamil Nadu, India (call, song)
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) [XC769886]
by Sreekumar Chirukandoth from Kancheepuram (near Thiruvidanthai), Tamil Nadu, India (call, song)
Subspecies
Sometimes treated as subspecies of Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), the Pamir population showing intermediate characteristics.